Campus farewells two teachers

Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina Campus has farewelled two of its teaching staff members at the end of term two.

Japanese teacher Ms Melanie Rose has been accepted for a scholarship in Japan.

History teacher Mr Bill Donald is retiring after 35 years of teaching, all of which was spent at either Woy Woy or Umina campus.

Mr Donald commenced his teaching career at Woy Woy High School in 1973 and continued there for the next 27 years.

For the last eight years, he has taught at Umina campus, moving to Umina when the college was formed in the year 2000.

"Bill has played a valuable part in the education of many local students who are now parents in the local community and have children who Bill has taught," Umina campus principal Mr Frank Gasper said.

"Bill has not only been an outstanding classroom teacher but has been a role model and mentor to other teachers."

Ms Rose has been accepted into a 12-month scholarship program in Japan to develop her language and cultural skills.

Mr Gasper said: "Melanie has made an outstanding contribution to this school.

"She has developed the teaching of Japanese from a situation where very few students were selecting it as an elective subject to the current position where near maximum class size has been reached in the Year 9 elective class."

Mr Gasper said she had been involved in organising a series of class trips to Japan, making it a regular feature of the school year.

"In addition she has been a compassionate and dedicated teacher to whom students can relate on a personal level," Mr Gasper said.

"She has played a key role within her team as a relieving student welfare coordinator and has excelled in this role."

Newsletter, 4 Jul 2008 Frank Gasper, Brisbane Water Secondary College